Date of Birth: January 1965
Nationality: Zimbabwean
Education: Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Zimbabwe

Biography

Tsitsi Masiyiwa is a globally recognized philanthropist and social entrepreneur dedicated to transforming lives through education, health, and youth empowerment. Born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, she was the youngest of five girls and completed her primary and secondary education at Chishawasha Primary School and Dominican Convent in Harare. An avid athlete, she represented Zimbabwe in hockey and basketball at regional tournaments during her school years. After earning her MBA from the University of Zimbabwe, Tsitsi embarked on a career that blended entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and social impact.
In the early 1990s, Tsitsi began her philanthropic journey in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Zimbabwe, focusing on supporting orphaned and vulnerable children. In 1996, she co-founded the Higherlife Foundation with her husband, Strive Masiyiwa, to invest in human capital development across Africa. The foundation has impacted over 300,000 students through scholarships and innovative educational programs, particularly in Zimbabwe, Burundi, and Lesotho. Her commitment to leveraging technology for education led to the creation of Ruzivo Digital Learning, an e-learning platform that provides curriculum-aligned content to thousands of students, and Muzinda Hub, a tech incubator fostering digital skills and entrepreneurship among African youth.
In 2017, Tsitsi established Delta Philanthropies to catalyze innovative solutions to poverty through impact investing and strategic partnerships. Her leadership extends to numerous global advisory roles, including Chair of the African Philanthropy Forum, Trustee of the END Fund, and member of advisory boards for Texas A&M University, Yale Institute for Global Health, and UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited Initiative. Her work has earned her honorary doctorates from Morehouse College (2016), Africa University (2017), and Bryant University (2024), as well as the Champions for Change Award for Leadership from the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW).
Tsitsi’s commitment to global health and education is further evidenced by her role as Co-Chair of The Trinity Challenge, where she judged data-driven solutions for pandemic preparedness, and her involvement with organizations like Resolve to Save Lives and Co-Impact. As a signatory of the Giving Pledge since 2014, she has demonstrated a lifelong dedication to using her resources for social good.